Get Fit Challenge Blog

Did you know that hugging can improve your health? Usually we think of fitness and good food when improving our health; we should also add hugging to the regime as an inexpensive supplement to good health. Just make such the recipient is comfortable receiving your healthy hugs…

Hugging has been shown to reduce heart rates, improve overall moods, lower blood pressure, increase nerve activity, and a host of other beneficial effects. YES… the power of the hug can even reduce the risk of heart disease, how you ask? By lowering our blood pressure and heart rate. It can even help alleviate stress and increase of feeling of calm; which in turn help reduce the risk of other diseases caused by stress.

Top Ten Benefits of Hugging

1. Costs nothing
2. Boosts your immune system
3. Builds self-esteem
4. Fosters self-acceptance
5. Alleviates tension
6. Helps curb appetite
7. Saves heat
8. Is portable
9. Requires no special setting or equipment
10. Feels great

Hug someone at least for 6 seconds… this the minimum time necessary to promote the flow of oxytocin and serotonin, mood-boosting chemicals that promote bonding. Have you hugged someone today?

It is time to clean out the junk in the truck and the winter weight. With the sun shining and warming the earth; it really get people in the mood to get moving. Even walking is more enjoyable with the warm air caressing our skin and the sun creating a warmth. As with anything a little warm up maybe necessary as may not have used those muscles since the last time you engaged in the activity. Slow and steady will often win the race, or arrive at the finish line without injury. First, make sure if you are using equipment you have checked the integrity of the items. Think about the sport or activity you are going to participate in, you should begin with an overall strength program specializing in areas required to accel your sport.

It is time to clean out the junk in the truck and the winter weight. With the sun shining and warming the earth; it really get people in the mood to get moving. Even walking is more enjoyable with the warm air caressing our skin and the sun creating a warmth. As with anything a little warm up maybe necessary as may not have used those muscles since the last time you engaged in the activity. Slow and steady will often win the race, or arrive at the finish line without injury. First, make sure if you are using equipment you have checked the integrity of the items. Think about the sport or activity you are going to participate in, you should begin with an overall strength program specializing in areas required to accel your sport.

Or if you just want to lose a little winter weight. The best plan of attack is to start a walking program, compliment that with a strength training program 2 to 3 times per week; you will be feeling and looking great in no time. If you are interested in summer outdoor program check out Go Figure! Facebook page for the new summer classes.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Go-Figure-Family-Fun-and-Fitness/25074701303?sk=app_237202476309340

Spring has coming knocking a couple times. Though the last couple of days is feels like it is going backwards. Dress for it and let’s go moving. It is time to shake out those winter cobwebs and take action. Spring is perfect for a little spring cleaning, this doesn’t have to only apply to the garage or house. It has also apply to our bodies. Winter, we tend to take it easy a little more, who wants to head outside in cool, yucky weather.

So let’s take the warmer weather as an opportunity to get outside and become more active. There are many program that are offered outside, in our parks i.e. organized sports &  fitness class. If you don’t feel like taking part in a group activity. You could enjoy some family time and show your family by example going for a family walk in the neighbour or in the woods. I bet your four-legged with the long tongues would love to hit the trails for a little run.

Just some suggestions from Go Figure! of upcoming classes.

Babes and Buggies –  Mommy fitness with Baby bonding time

Fit N Fido – Fitness for human plus obedience for Fido. 

Fab at 50 – Feeling fabulous at 50+ a workout especially design with the women 50+  in mind and body.

Bikini Blast – a workout to blast you into your best beach body.

Chick Kicks Cardio – kickboxing style cardiovascular workout, shed those unwanted pounds and tone your body with this great workout

Last 10lbs Blast – Let’s get down and dirty with those unwanted last 10lbs, expect to sweat and work hard, but you will reach your goal …some nutritional pointers to help melt that snow from the glorious jagged mountains.

Get Fit Challenge Online  - Are you up for the challenge? Challenge yourself to a healthy lifestyle and feeling great doing it. 

Abs and Butts – let’s focus on lifting and toning your posture and strengtening your core. ( Innisfil)

Accountability!! That is the “A” word I was referring too. Having accountability is certainly advantageous to our journey to a healthier lifestyle. Far too often it is hard to be accountable to ourselves. We can find every excuse or reason, if you like that word better, still comes to the same conclusion –  Validation for the lack of treating yourself the best you can! Let’s remember that we only live once, and we can’t wait until life to occur. We must enable

First off, this will be my first post as a Grandmother or Nana,  I think I will use Nana… I apologize for the absentee from the blog posting but it still takes adjustments to have a new born in the house. It has been a few years.

Being a grandparent creates new opportunity to get some physical activity under our belts. You are certainly never to old to get started, and every little bit counts as well. If you are limited in your mobility or capabilities a qualified fitness trainer can assist you in designing a program suitable for your level. Simply pushing a stroller is great exercise and good for everyone. The baby get some healthy fresh air and you can stretch your legs and get some exercise too.

The best thing that you can do for your children/grandchildren is teach by example. If you want them to value a healthy lifestyle and looking after their health, it is best shown through example. The children are more apt to enjoy physical activity if introduced early and demonstrated throughout their lives. I started with my 2week grand baby, walking the dogs in the woods, today.

The more moving around you are able to do; the more you will be able to do next time. Soon you will be chasing those toddlers all around. I am truly looking forward to a get relationship with my new granddaugther Lucy Marie. I would love to hear some of the activities you are enjoying with your grandchildren.

With March Break around the corner… let’s not make our families a barrier but instead an addition to our fitness regime. Let’s exercise family style. Pick things you can do as a family such as hiking, geocaching ( great fun for the little one), rock climbing and indoor tampoline, just to name an activity or two. Trust me the list is very long of activities. Make improving your health a family affair. Some local park may offer a fitness course that you could tackle together. Try some ” Try it Free” events, in your local community. You can choose activities that many need a little planning like a martial art class together or simply go ice-skating, or even hiking in the with your favourite four-legged family member.

Even if you are not really the outdoorsy type. Exercise can still be fun for the whole family. With the new video games such as Wii or X-box Kinects, even the most committed couch potoes will enjoy standing on the Wii Balance board. There are a ton of fun video games from white water rafting, bowling , dancing to tight rope walking. Plus you can track your progress of the family also.

Get NetFlix… I am not suggesting that you sit on the couch all night watching movies. Netflix has a wide variety of exercise video for a fairly inexpensive fee. Try a few and buy the one that really motivate you.

Challenge: Name a family activity that you will participate in over the March Break 

Believe in yourself and use the words to back it up! Words like ” I’ll try ” or ” I hope” are wishie washie. As Yoda said ” Do or do not. There is no try”. So let’s think about this… what am I asking you to do?

Challenge: This week is the “Can’t” challenge. I would like you to think about what you say? No more words like can’t or try! Instead of statements ” I am hoping to lose 20 lbs.” I want to start hearing ” I am GOING to lose 20 lbs”.  

Jot down when you were going to say the “unproductive ” word . It is all about the words this week. 

“Can’t”  is merely choosing not too. It is making a choice. You can do anything that you set your mind too. Sometimes you might have to work a little harder to achieve your goals.  If you can conceive and believe you will achieve your goals.

Weather Good or Bad is just a fact of life. Since we live in Canada we have all four seasons, it snows get over it!  You don’t have to let the weather control your activity level. You can just work with it or around it. We need regular DAILY exercise, doesn’t matter the weather condition.

How do with work with it? I am so glad you asked. First off, dress comfortable for the weather, if it is raining ( rain gear and an umbella), for the cold; mitts, boots and hats. Secondly pick a fun activity, tubing or leaves pile jumping, snowshoeing, gardening and the list goes on, depending on the season.

How do you work around it? Take your walk undercover; choose a mall. Make sure you do your laps first before you begin window shopping. Visit your local YMCA even if you don’t have a membership, you can do a day pass for a small fee. We are lucky in Barrie to have some very interesting activities such as indoor tampolines, Interactive Bulldog Fitness, indoor glowin the dark mini putt.

Or if you just can’t get out of the house; could be a bad snow storm, we do live in Canada. No excuses put some time in your personal workout space, choose your favourite workout video (Sherry ~ get some Bob Harper Time )  or try the video games that get you moving. There is plenty of ways to remain active even with minimal exercise equipment.

Challenge: Tell us about a great exercise using a non-traditional piece of fitness equipment 

“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.” ~ Dr. Seuss

We can try to complicate the equation with special shakes, miracle pills or that vibrate new piece of fitness equipment. The answer to the question how to do I lose weight and keep it off is very simple. Eating healthy, natural foods accompanied by regular daily exercise. It does take effort. Everything that is worth having or holding onto will take effort. You are truly worth every single drop of sweat that runs down your face. In order to keep the weight off you must make a lifestyle change. There is no effortless solutions but putting an effort will be very rewarding in all aspects of your life. At present we are half way through our Get Fit Challenge 2012, it is amazing to see the transformation happening in front of my very eyes, stronger and healthier people. I looked at the starting pictures to see the changes, remind me what everyone looked like a mere 7 weeks ago.

How do you get started? Make a commitment to yourself. Buy a journal and make it your own. It all begin with one foot, step in the right direction followed by another soon you are well on your way. The only thing that is holding you back from making a change is yourself. You deserve to be happy and healthy. Believe in yourself and own it! I am going to GET FIT!